Process for making a refastenable side seam, apparatus and article having that refastenable side seam

Abstract

A process and an apparatus for making a refastenable side seam of an hygienic absorbent article efficiently, without the need to remove scrap and which allows refastenable side seams to be obtained which are ergonomic, aesthetically pleasing, easily identifiable by the user and such that they do not reduce the wearability of the article. The disclosure also relates to an hygienic absorbent article provided with at least one refastenable side seam. The disclosure also relates to a process and an apparatus for carrying out one or more operations on elastic panels usable for making an hygienic absorbent article provided with at least one refastenable side seam.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An hygienic absorbent article provided with at least one refastenable side seam suitable for connecting a first elastic panel with a second elastic panel in a removable manner, comprising:
 said first elastic panel and said second elastic panel each including a first layer and a second layer between which at least an elastic element is comprised associated with said first layer and said second layer, 
 said first elastic panel and/or said second elastic panel being provided with at least one connecting element fixed on a respective surface portion of said first elastic panel and/or of said second elastic panel, 
 said at least one connecting element being configured to connect said first elastic panel with said second elastic panel directly, or by means of another connecting element conjugated thereto, so as to make said refastenable side seam, and 
 said first elastic panel and/or said second elastic panel having a respective retracted portion next to the respective surface portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The article of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one connecting element projects beyond the respective surface portion so that the respective retracted portion is at least partially hidden by said at least one connecting element.